11.11.2015
The Justice Committee has today supported the general principles of a Bill that aims to create a stronger system for administering and delivering non-custodial justice disposals and measures to reduce reoffending.
The Bill would abolish the eight existing community justice authorities and give local community justice partners responsibility for local planning and monitoring of community justice services. A new national body would also be created to provide strategic leadership and oversight of the services.
In its Stage 1 Report published today, the Committee makes a number of recommendations aimed, in particular, at strengthening strategic leadership and simplifying the community justice landscape. Both issues were identified as particular weaknesses of the current community justice arrangements by Dame Elish Angiolini’s Commission on Women Offenders and by Audit Scotland in their 2012 reports.
Committee Convener Christine Grahame MSP said:
“Throughout the Committee’s evidence taking at Stage 1, we were keen to establish whether legislative reform was needed, given the current arrangements have only been in operation since 2007, and whether the proposals would make the change envisaged by the Commission on Women Offenders and Audit Scotland in their 2012 reports.
“Having taken evidence from key individuals and stakeholders, the Committee accepts that improvements to community justice structures and arrangements are required. While the evidence we received did not show any great enthusiasm for the exact model in the Bill, there was an acceptance that it would be difficult to achieve one that all bodies involved in community justice would be wholly satisfied with.
“We had particular concerns that the detailed proposals in the Bill may not achieve the correct balance between strong national leadership, improvements in performance, and local flexibility in relation to the delivery of services. We have therefore recommended that the oversight functions of the national body are strengthened to provide the robust leadership and accountability which is missing from current arrangements.
“We have also urged the Government to clarify the duties of the national and local bodies and the balance of responsibilities between the two, and on how the model is expected to work in practice, to clear up ambiguity over the new arrangements.
“All of us should be aiming to prevent people offending in the first place and it is important to acknowledge the important role of early intervention and prevention. This makes sense from a public protection perspective whilst also reducing pressure on the public purse.
“We hope the Scottish Government reflects upon our recommendations and we look forward to considering amendments at Stage 2.”
Background
Read the Justice Committee Report.
More information on the work of the Justice Committee